2012 Neural Development Gordon Research Conference

描述（由申请人提供）：成人中枢神经系统的正常功能需要高度协调和精确调节的发育程序，以协调神经发生、神经元迁移、轴突引导和突触发生。这些程序的改变已被证明是一系列神经发育障碍的基础，包括自闭症谱系障碍、精神分裂症、精神发育迟滞、癫痫和神经变性。因此，全面了解神经系统发育的基本机制对于合理设计治疗这些疾病的策略至关重要。2012年神经发育戈登研究会议的目标是汇集建立和上升的研究人员讨论最近的研究突破，以促进互动和合作，并加强转化研究的基础。会议的总体主题将围绕分子和遗传方法，以及跨物种研究在我们理解神经发育原则中的作用。自1981年以来，该会议每半年举行一次，已成为该领域的首要会议，一直吸引着杰出的国家和国际研究人员，以及学生和博士后研究员在一个小型的互动环境中进行深入的科学讨论。会议的形式是围绕口头介绍，然后进行广泛的讨论，高度互动的海报会议，以及非正式会议的“自由”时间，这使得互动的水平和深度在其他大型会议上很少见。2012年 会议将讨论八个主题，包括神经发生与脑模式;细胞命运特化;神经干细胞;神经元迁移与极化;神经元形态发生;神经系统连线;突触发生与回路形成;人脑进化。在制定该计划时，注意邀请最近取得令人兴奋的突破的演讲者，他们在研究中使用各种模型系统（蠕虫，果蝇，非洲爪蟾，斑马鱼，小鼠，人类）和多种方法，包括分子，遗传和细胞。该计划还包括国家和国际演讲者，以及高级和初级研究人员。35%的确认发言者是女性。基于先前的历史和令人兴奋的确认发言者名单，我们预计2012年神经发育GRC将是一个成功的论坛，进一步加深我们对神经发育的理解，并促进转化研究的战略，以解决人类神经发育病理学。 公共卫生相关性：研究会议提供了一个重要的论坛，传播研究成果，并建立合作，导致新的见解。2012年戈登神经发育研究会议预计将通过进一步了解中枢和外周神经系统发育的基本机制以及这些机制如何在神经发育障碍中被破坏来影响公共卫生。研究人员之间的讨论和相互作用，使用各种互补的实验方法在不同的模型系统工作，预计将导致新的研究方向的启动，导致新的治疗策略的发展和合理的治疗方法的目标的识别。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proper function of the adult central nervous system requires highly orchestrated and precisely regulated developmental programs to coordinate neurogenesis, neuronal migration, axon guidance and synaptogenesis. Alterations in these programs have been shown to underlie a wide array of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, mental retardation, epilepsia and neurodegeneration. Thus, a complete understanding of the basic mechanisms of nervous system development is essential for a rational design of strategies to treat these disorders. The goal of the 2012 Neural Development Gordon Research Conference is to bring together established and rising investigators to discuss recent research breakthroughs, in order to foster interactions and collaborations, and to strengthen the foundation for translational research. The overall theme of the meeting will center around molecular and genetic approaches, and the role of cross-species investigations in our understanding of neurodevelopmental principles. This conference has been held biannually since 1981, and has become the premier conference in this field that consistently attracts prominent national and international researchers, as well as students and postdoctoral fellows in a small, interactive setting for in-depth scientific discussions. The format of the meeting which is centered around oral presentations followed by extensive discussions, highly interactive poster sessions, and 'free' time for informal meetings allows a level and depth of interaction that is rarely found at other, larger conferences. The 2012 conference will cover 8 themes including neurogenesis and brain patterning; cell fate specification; neural stem cells; neuronal migration and polarization; neuronal morphogenesis; wiring the nervous system; synaptogenesis and circuit formation; human brain evolution. In developing the program, attention was paid to inviting speakers who have made recent exciting breakthroughs and who use a variety of model systems (worm, fruit fly, xenopus, zebrafish, mouse, human) and multiple approaches including molecular, genetic and cellular, in their research. The program also includes national and international speakers, as well as both senior and junior researchers. 35% of the confirmed speakers are women. Based on prior history and the exciting list of confirmed speakers, we expect that the 2012 Neural Development GRC will be a successful forum furthering our understanding of neural development, and in promoting strategies for translational research to address human neurodevelopmental pathologies. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Research conferences provide a critical forum for the dissemination of research findings, and for the establishment of collaborations leading to novel insights. The 2012 Gordon Research Conference in Neural Development is expected to impact public health by furthering our understanding of the basic mechanisms by which the central and peripheral nervous systems develop, and how these mechanisms are disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders. Discussions and interactions among researchers working on different model systems using various complementary experimental approaches is expected to result in the initiation of novel research directions, leading to the development of new therapeutic strategies and the identification of targets for rational treatment approaches.